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While Gov. Nikki Haley’s vetoes may have totaled a miniscule portion of the budget, it didn’t stop lawmakers from overriding a significant number of her 87 vetoes (83 on the General Appropriations bill, three on the Capital Reserve Fund bill, and one on the Supplemental Appropriations bill). The House sustained only 17 of the 87 vetoes and the Senate another two.

The Legislature moved quickly through the vetoes, often not even feigning serious debate to the possibility of sustaining a veto.

Baltimore has seen riots, demonstrations and destruction. When students asked what I thought of the whole thing, I said I didn’t have all the facts, so my opinion would be based on hearsay.

At that, one of my students began a tirade on police brutality with their own set of facts, which they assured me were accurate. Another student went all the way back to Trayvon Martin, Ferguson, New York and Charleston, speaking of the evils of police brutality.

Fire protection is a key function of government, and a system of robust volunteer fire departments, supplemented as necessary by paid firefighters, is essential to the financial health of Lancaster County.

The question as to how to best provide the paid assistance while maintaining the strength of the volunteer departments is of prime importance.

As these words are being written, the ceremony of lowering the Confederate flag at the capital is happening – literally.

In the end, it simply came down.

There were no speeches by politicians. There were not bands playing. There were no elaborate ceremonies. It all ended with seven state troopers – white and black, male and female – silently walking across the capital lawn, lowering the flag, rolling it up and giving it to a nameless state employee to be taken to a museum.

The book of Ruth demonstrates the providence of God. It occurred during the days of the judges, when “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” When there was a famine in Israel, Elimelech and Naomi left their home in Bethlehem to sojourn in the land of Moab.

Tragedy followed. Elimelech died, leaving Naomi and her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. They married Moabite women, but then both died after about 10 years in Moab. When Naomi heard that the famine had ended in Israel, she decided to return home.

I told you Slick Willie was making a return trip to the farm with his aunt and was bringing his cousin Wilber Clinton that he called The Arkansas Kid.

Middle sister, smarter than the rest of us, told me the only reason these boys were coming back to the farm was to whip my scrawny little behind. She further explained that Willie was a first class drut, and I had better be prepared.

I told middle sister that I had two pockets full of assorted ammo and I would be packing my sling shot.

A faith group in my town recently held a worship event with about 350 plus people in attendance. They expected people from several states and foreign countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, United Kingdom and Canada. The International group came together in celebration of their Christian faith to worship and recognize academic achievement.

Eight days after pleading guilty to misspending $93,958 from his campaign account, ex-S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell paid $3,517 from the account to the state probation department, campaign records show – money which the agency says was credited toward his court-ordered restitution.

“I’ve had to make statements like this too many times,” President Barack Obama said after the recent shootings at a church in Charleston. “Once again, innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun.”

In recent months, the Indian Land area continues to hear about new and exciting changes coming to our area and how Lancaster County has been named the fastest-growing county in the state. Growth, growth and more growth – all of which is positive for Indian Land area residents and the entire county, if done correctly.

The sheriff’s office is looking at adding a special fee district to help support the growth in the area and Lancaster County Council has implemented new overlays to help develop Indian Land with some zoning control.